There was a rectangular rosewood table at the center of the large room with four chairs placed on both sides and one in the middle. A large bowl of fruit was at the center and there were already dishes like dumplings, garlic rice, and pickled vegetables on the table. Heng Guiying, Yu Zeng, and Wei Shun arrived in the dining room together.
"Guiying, I didn't see you a while ago. Where have you been?" Ai Jin brightened up when she saw Heng Guiying and Yu Zeng walking towards the table. She immediately stood up from where she was sitting and approached them.
"I was with Yu Zeng and Wei Shun in their room." Heng Guiying happily replied.
"You should have invited me." Ai Jin pouted and held Heng Guiying's arm. She also held Yu Zeng's arm.
Yu Zeng felt a pair of eyes looking at him somewhere but he brushed it off thinking it was just his imagination.
She guided them to where she was sitting a while ago. "Let's sit close to each other." Ai Jin looked at Yu Zeng who looked at Wei Shun. Heroine, where will Wei Shun sit ah. There were only three empty seats, the fourth one was already occupied by the other representative from the South sect, her emerald eyes looked at them coldly.
Yu Zeng was about to tell Ai Jin that he would sit at the other side of the table when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked around and saw the villain. His golden eyes looked at him like they could pierce through his soul.
"Let's sit over there." Dong Fang said pointing at the other side of the table.
Yu Zeng remembered what happened at the hot spring and wanted to decline but he thought of Wei Shun and immediately agreed.
Dong Fang guided them to the other side of the table where three empty seats were waiting for them. The fourth seat was occupied by a brawny man from the West sect, he looked at Dong Fang with Wei Shun and Yu Zeng behind him.
Heng Guiying glared at Dong Fang which surprised Ai Jin. Are they fighting on who wants to sit next to me?
Suddenly a guy with chestnut eyes entered the room and sat on the empty seat next to Ai Jin and winked at her. He smiled at Heng Guiying.
After a while, the grandmaster arrived and took a seat in the middle of the table.
"I formally welcome you all here in the Main Sect. After we eat, we will go to the tournament ground and discuss the rules of the match."
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After they ate their lunch, they were led to the tournament ground outside. There was a concrete stadium at the center and at the side was a series of concrete chairs for spectators to sit on.
"Today, the pairings for the match will be decided. Prepare yourselves." Zhou Zhihao said with a nonchalant expression on his handsome face. A wooden box was floating in front of him.
"Before I draw your names. Let me tell you first the rules of the match. Anyone who comes into contact outside of the ring or gives up will lose automatically. If someone is knocked out and can't stand up at the count of five, he or she loses. Killing your opponent is extremely prohibited, doing so would lead not only to disqualification but also banishment to the Death Valley for the rest of your lives."
After saying the rules, the grandmaster picked two chips of wood from the wooden box with names carved on them. There was a grave silence in the place, everyone was waiting for the grandmaster to read the names engraved on the chips of wood. The sun was slowly hiding behind the clouds and rain was threatening to fall.
"The first to compete is Heng Guiying from North Sect against Dong Fang from South Sect." Both Dong Fang and Heng Guiying stepped forward. Yu Zeng was nervous for both of them. He already knew the result of their match based on what he read from the novel but he was hoping it won't be fatal.
"The second match will be Bo Chang from North Sect against Ai Jin from West Sect." A guy with a pair of chestnut eyes floated and went in front. He winked at Ai Jin. Ai Jin also stepped forward. Show-off. Ai Jin just stared at him.
"The third match will be Yu Zeng from East Sect against Mei Shu from South Sect." A lady with emerald eyes stepped forward followed by Yu Zeng who was calmly walking but was trembling with fear inside. I can do this. We are both water wielders.
The sky suddenly cleared up. The grandmaster looked at the two remaining representatives who were still not called.
"The fourth match will be Fan Chun of West Sect and Wei Shun of East Sect." A brawny man stepped forward, his onyx eyes looked at his opponent. When Fan Chun saw the fragile appearance of Wei Shun he couldn't help but held his head high and smiled proudly. You should go back to your sect boy!
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After the meeting, Ai Jin excitedly walked towards Heng Guiying.
"There's a beautiful garden close here. Let's go there."
What does it have to do with me? Heng Guiying just stared at her but unexpectedly Ai Jun grabbed his arm and led him towards the said garden.
Heng Guiying wanted to take. Yu Zeng but saw that the other man was walking away from the tournament grounds with Wei Shun.
Yu Zeng looked at Wei Shun who was silent for a long time and was slowly turning pale.
"Let's take a walk." Yu Zeng smiled at the child. Wei Shun just followed Yu Zeng. They walked farther away from the tournament ground and stopped in front of a large tree. Yu Zeng climbed it and sat on a branch. It surprised Wei Shun.
"Come here, Wei Shun." Yu Zeng said. Wei Shun climbed the tree and sat next to Yu Zeng.
They could see the wide sea and the sun slowly fading on the horizon saying its goodbye. Its rays glimmered with mystical colors of oranges, pinks, reds, and yellows, spreading across the sky which was slowly turning dark.
"Are you nervous about the upcoming match?" Yu Zeng asked the young boy sitting next to him.
Wei Shun remembered how Fan Shun looked at him when they were in the stadium, he slowly nodded. Yu Zeng touched the child's hair and smiled, "Don't be. Big brother knows that you can do it."
The young child hesitated for a moment but decided to hug him. "Thank you, big brother." Big brother Yu Zeng is so good to me now.
We still have two days before the match. It's really important to train ourselves. Yu Zeng thought.
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When they returned to their room after dinner, Yu Zeng saw Mei Shu outside talking with Dong Fang and seemed to be discussing something.
They look good together. He thought and went inside. He decided to lie down and was about to go to dreamland when he heard footsteps entering the room.
"There are only three beds here." Dong Fang said when he entered the room.
"We should---" Yu Zeng wasn't able to finish what he was about to say because Dong Fang already lay beside him.
"It's alright. It's comfortable this way." Dong Fang said.
"..." Yu Zeng just stared at the ceiling of their room and took a deep breath.
He couldn't sleep, he felt the movement next to him stopped and thought that Dong Fang was already sleeping, so he decided to go out to take a walk.
The night sky was filled with twinkling stars and the moon provided some light in the place.
He walked towards the direction of the hot spring and planned to soak there when there was a sudden downpour so he immediately sought shelter under the thick branches of a tree nearby. It was so dark and it became colder. He could hear some light footsteps walking in his direction.
"Why did you go out?" A familiar voice suddenly asked from behind.
Yu Zeng's heart almost jumped out from his chest. "I just want to take a walk." He suddenly felt the person touching his hand spreading warmth throughout his body.
"..." Mr. Villain, are you slowly burning my hand? ...and I thought you are already asleep.
"Look, the rain stopped!" Dong Fang said and looked at him while holding his hand tighter. "This must be the power of our---"
"Friendship? The power of our friendship?" Yu Zeng happily asked. Wow! To be acknowledged by him as a friend. This is a lucky day for me!
"I found a great place close to the hot spring." Dong Fang said and ignored what he said while looking at the sky that was now clear with dark clouds and filled with stars.
Yu Zeng's eyes widened upon hearing what Dong Fang said and decided to think of an excuse to return to their room. You should go there with the heroine.
"It might rain again!" He nervously said and pulled his hand from Dong Fang's hold. "It's better to go back now."
"Don't worry, water is your element, right?"
"Yes... but---" Yu Zeng couldn't think of another excuse.
Dong Fang grabbed his hand and led him to a place filled with flowers.
The night sky was filled with twinkling stars and the moon seemed smiling down at them.
A man with golden eyes slowly took off his white mask and held the delicate hand of the beautiful lady standing next to him. It was a place filled with flowers.
The lady stared at his face for a long time.
"You shouldn't hide your face. For sure many would envy you and fall in love with you."
--- excerpt from the novel "Daybreak" ---
(...to be continued.)
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...reviews are welcome! :)
Author's notes :
Yu Zeng's heart almost jumped out from his chest. "I just want to take a walk." He suddenly felt a hand touching his hand spreading warmth throughout his body.
"..." Mr. Villain, are you slowly burning my hand?
Author: He is slowly melting your heart??? 😁😉
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I apologize for my late update, I was busy with my work. I hope you enjoy this chapter. 😊
Feel free to check my other stories. 💕
Spoiler for the next chapter:
His movements were smooth and slow yet captivating. He slowly took off his mask and smiled at Yu Zeng. Their eyes met and he gently touched the face in front of him while his other hand slipped behind Yu Zeng's waist...
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